BY MATT TUCK
Collectors have put a target on Strange Adventures #205 as visions of the DCU dance in their heads.
Leave it to James Gunn to stir the fandom. The famed writer/director has made his social media accounts required viewing since he and Peter Safran were announced as the co-chairs of the revamped DC Studios. Gunn seems to enjoy leaving breadcrumbs for his followers as they theorize what is in store for the DCU Chapter One. Whether it’s Mister Terrific, Lobo, or Kingdom Come, he’s made a habit of keeping fans guessing, and his image posts with little or no context stirs the pot in delicious fashion.
Recently, Gunn dropped a picture of DC’s resident ghostly superhero, Deadman. What adds to the intrigue is that Gunn posted the same image on Halloween 2022. Seeing the same pic twice has collectors and investors thinking Boston Brand is coming to the DCU, possibly as part of a Justice League Dark project.
Nothing has been confirmed, so it’s all conjecture at this point. Still, that isn’t slowing the sales for Deadman’s first appearance in 1967’s Strange Adventures #205. Thanks to Gunn’s posts, prices are on the way up. A graded 9.0, which averaged $2,538 in 2023, sold for a record $3k on March 17. Meanwhile, a 4.5 sold for $350, surpassing the 2023 fair market value by nearly $50. While these are not eye-popping numbers, it’s nonetheless a good sign for Deadman collectors. Since Gunn posts so many possible teasers, there’s no telling what he’s got in mind for the characters. Who knows if we’ll actually see Deadman in a future movie or show? That is why the values aren’t breaking the ceiling quite yet. However, it’s not a bad idea to invest so long as you don’t get too caught up in the FOMO effect.